President-elect Donald Trump has justified his threat of 25% tariffs on Canada by pointing to the US trade deficit. Top Canadian economists have a response to that: it’s all because your country wants cheap oil. The US is on track to end 2024 with the largest overall trade deficit in its history. Its imbalance with Canada is about $60 billion. …Trump has repeatedly claimed the deficit is a subsidy to the Canadian economy, and said Tuesday the US doesn’t need anything from Canada. Import and export data, however, paint a different picture. Among the US’s top partners, its trade with Canada is the most equally balanced — because Canada buys $85 million from the US for every $100 million it exports. When stripping out oil and gas, the US actually has a significant trade surplus with Canada — its biggest energy supplier and a key buyer of American products from food to machinery.
“The Americans have had the better side of the deal because for more than a decade, they’ve been running surpluses on the non-energy side,” Stéfane Marion at National Bank of Canada, said. “Your deficit is with Canada on energy, but Canada allows you to have access to energy at a discount that you refine or transform to sell at a higher price to the rest of the world.” The US has been a net total energy exporter since 2019 as increases in domestic production lowered the need for imports. Still, it imports crude oil, petroleum products, natural gas and electricity from Canada. …“For the first time, the US is actually a net beneficiary when energy prices increase because they’re a net exporter,” Marion said. “Americans need to know the reason you have that is partly because of Canada.”
As industries increasingly adopt sustainability considerations across their value chains, the importance of environmental product declarations (EPD) cannot be overstated. By systematically assessing the environmental impacts of a product from cradle to grave, businesses can gain valuable insight into their supply chain, pinpoint areas for improvement, and make informed strategic decisions that align with both regulatory requirements and customer expectations. As stakeholders increasingly demand accountability and verifiable environmental performance, embracing EPDs becomes a cornerstone of a forward-thinking and resilient sustainability strategy.
Day two of the Global Wood Summit in Vancouver opened with a presentation by Alejandra Glazebrook from PwC (Platinum event sponsor). Glazebrook presented insights into the forest sector, highlighting its significant contributions to the Canadian economy, employing over 200,000 people and generating approximately $35 billion.
ERA Forest Products Research’s John Cooney opened day two of the Global Wood Summit in Vancouver by introducing Alejandra Glazebrook of PwC Canada, who provided an overview of global trends in forest sector profitability. Cooney followed with a detailed report on the North American lumber market and then moderated a Q&A panel with Ken Shields (Conifex Timber), Stefan Lyren (Olympic Industries), John Bal (Interfor) and Dean Garofano (Delta Forest Group). In addition to weak lumber prices—economic fibre shortages, softwood lumber duties, residual offtake challenges and lingering labour constraints—were noted as causing headaches for producers. Over 3 billion board feet of sawmill capacity closures were announced across North America in 2024, after about 2 billion board feet between 2022 and 2023. And sawmill closures are no longer just a BC phenomenon with over 1.2 billion board feet of curtailments in the historically “lower cost” US South to date in 2024.
The long awaited Global Wood Summit kicked-off in Vancouver yesterday with a detailed overview of global log and lumber trends by forest market analyst and conference co-host Russ Taylor. With due notice that “forecasters are almost always wrong”, Taylor described the long list of current and expected “fibre supply disruptors”, (including the war in Ukraine and in the Middle East), and the many negative policy initiatives, (such as the EU Deforestation Regulation and new logging restrictions in BC and Oregon), that are exacerbating the availability and supply of low-cost softwood logs world wide. Within North America, potential growth in log and lumber supply is limited to the US South, and other than beetle and wildfire killed logs in select regions, there are few other new sources of wood, said Taylor.
On Day 1 of the Truck Loggers Association 80th Annual Convention, Russ Taylor and Don Wright tackled the pressing question:
Are you looking to enhance your skills in the lumber and sawmill sector? Onboarding new employees that would benefit from formal education in the field? Are you seeking to provide your employees with essential business skills for professional development? BCIT is currently offering two Associate Certificates to help you: 
The BC Forest History Association is thrilled to welcome Don Pigott as our December Speaker Series guest! Don will share his expertise on the evolution of cone collection in British Columbia over the past century. With 50 years of experience, he’ll also highlight some of the seed-related projects that have shaped his career and the field of forestry. No forester is too young, old, inexperienced, or seasoned to learn something from Don!
About the Speaker: Don Pigott’s career spans decades of groundbreaking work in forestry and silviculture. During his 13 years at MacMillan Bloedel, he managed seed supply for reforestation, established seed orchards, and oversaw operational tree improvement programs. In 1982, Don founded Yellow Point Propagation Ltd., a private silviculture company providing comprehensive services, including cone and seed processing, and consulting for forestry projects across North America and Europe. For the past 16 years, Yellow Point Propagation has focused on gene conservation for whitebark pine, limber pine, alpine larch, and numerous other species, further cementing Don’s legacy as a pioneer in forestry innovation. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from an expert with unparalleled insights into forestry’s past, present, and future.
2024 has been an interesting year on a number of fronts. More importantly, it marked BCFSC commemorating 20 years of service to the industry, where a number of Forest Safety News stories were shared over the course of the year through the lens of industry and staff reflecting on the forest industry’s journey to improving safety. The first theme shared in these stories related to acknowledging the history of the unacceptable number of injuries and work-related deaths. The second theme that emerged highlighted the efforts of industry pulling together to make dynamic and positive change.
Zoltan van Heyningen, Executive Director, US Lumber Coalition, provided a US perspective on softwood lumber duties at the Global Wood Summit in Vancouver. Van Heyningen clarified the difference between policy-driven trade action (that can result in tariffs) and legal processes that administer US trade laws (that can result in antidumping and countervailing duties). According to van Heyningen:
At the TLA Conference, the Securing the Future for BC’s Forestry Contractors panel addressed critical challenges facing contractors amidst declining allowable annual cuts (AAC) and rising operational costs. Moderated by Vaughn Palmer, the session featured Bob Brash, Executive Director of the TLA; Chris Duncan, Partner at MNP LLP; and Dorian Uzzell, TLA President and contractor. Brash, stepping in for Michael Armstrong, highlighted how reduced AAC and increasing costs strain contractors and communities reliant on forestry. Duncan shared insights on a project to establish a standardized framework for rate negotiations, emphasizing transparency and financial stability as vital for contractor sustainability. Uzzell provided firsthand perspectives, stressing the need for workforce development and stronger contractor representation in policy discussions.
The TLA panel Public and Political Influence focused on strategies to connect the forestry sector with the public and policymakers. Moderated by Vaughn Palmer, it featured Derek Nighbor of FPAC, radio host Simi Sara, and content creator Bob Kronbauer. Nighbor emphasized the need to “meet people where they are” using relatable storytelling and digital campaigns, highlighting FPAC’s efforts to counter misinformation and advocate for sustainable forestry. Sara highlighted the media’s role in making forestry narratives accessible and engaging. She critiqued the industry’s lack of outreach and urged it to embrace social media to reach younger audiences. Kronbauer underscored the power of authentic storytelling. Drawing on examples like “Potato Ty,” he urged industry professionals to use platforms like Instagram to share unfiltered stories that resonate with audiences, fostering appreciation and countering negative stereotypes.
Premier David Eby began his address to the Truck Loggers Association (TLA) Leader’s Luncheon by addressing the economic uncertainty posed by U.S. trade policies, both the existing softwood lumber duties and the proposed 25% tariff on all Canadian imports. He outlined the significant economic impact of the tariffs on BC, should they be implemented and last for four years, which is the loss of over 100,000 jobs and $60 billion in GDP. Working in concert with the rest of Canada, Eby said there are three components to BC’s response. First, retaliatory tariffs would target key U.S. political districts heavily reliant on Canadian goods. …Second, the strategy emphasizes strengthening BC’s economy by addressing bureaucratic delays, accelerating permitting processes, and improving infrastructure. …Third, the plan focuses on market diversification, with initiatives to deepen trade relationships in Asia and other international markets.
The Politics over Lunch panel at the TLA Conference featured Rob Shaw, Richard Zussman, and moderator Vaughn Palmer, offering insights into BC’s political dynamics and their implications for forestry. The discussion focused heavily on the NDP-Green Party agreement and its announcement of a comprehensive review of forestry policies. Shaw expressed frustration with the process’s redundancy, questioning, “What in the world do you have to do another review for at this point?” Zussman described the agreement as more “political positioning than practical policy”, urging industry to actively engage in the process to ensure their concerns and advancements are recognized. The panelists emphasized that this review presents an opportunity for the sector to highlight its advancements in carbon sequestration, sustainable harvesting, and Indigenous partnerships. They urged proactive engagement with policymakers to ensure practical outcomes. The panel concluded with strategies for improving media engagement, stressing transparency, timely communication, and relatable storytelling to rebuild public trust and reshape perceptions of the forestry sector.
The Wildfire and Climate Mitigation Strategies panel at the TLA Conference brought together experts to address BC’s escalating wildfire risks and explore climate-conscious forestry solutions. Moderated by Vaughn Palmer, the session featured John Davies, Jason Fisher, David Greer, and Jamie Stephen. John Davies emphasized the importance of integrating wildfire risk assessments into forestry planning and shifting from reactive firefighting to proactive measures like prescribed burns and mechanical thinning. Jason Fisher highlighted community-centred approaches, showcasing partnerships with Indigenous communities and forest enhancement initiatives that reduce wildfire risks and boost ecological resilience. David Greer provided insights into the evolution of wildfire management, stressing year-round strategies and shared responsibility through initiatives like FireSmart and risk-sharing partnerships. Jamie Stephen explored the role of bioenergy, advocating for policies that leverage forest biomass to reduce fuel loads and support rural economies while meeting climate goals. The panel underscored the need for collaboration, innovation, and sustainable investments to build resilient forests and communities.
The Our Path Forward panel at the Truck Loggers Association (TLA) Conference explored the future of BC’s forest industry, moderated by Vaughn Palmer. Jeff Bromley, Chair of the United Steelworkers Wood Council, stressed the need for collaboration, bold leadership, and revenue-sharing models with First Nations to address the industry’s challenges, including mill closures and declining annual allowable cuts. Ken Kalesnikoff, President of Kalesnikoff Lumber, highlighted his company’s shift from traditional sawmilling to value-added mass timber production. He showcased seismic-resistant structures and modular prefabricated components, emphasizing the role of innovation and government incentives in supporting rural economies and sustainable practices. Shannon Janzen of Iskum Investments shared insights on integrating Indigenous perspectives, advocating for “unlearning” outdated practices and embracing collaboration to redefine success. Dr. Michelle Corfield emphasized the need for systemic reforms, such as increased Indigenous representation and equitable revenue-sharing, to achieve reconciliation and foster economic resilience.